Pouring spout for liquid containers

ABSTRACT

A demountable pouring spout is disclosed for liquid containers which are sealed by a closure inserted into a filling orifice. In one embodiment the spout is a conduit with a piercing member at one end and an orifice adjacent the piercing member. During shipment and storage the spout is connected to the sealed container by the orifice engaging a post formed on the closure. During use the spout conduit frictionally engages a closure conduit, and the piercing device ruptures a frangible sealing membrane in the closure so that the orifices can be inserted into the container and the contents discharged through the orifices and the conduit. The container is resealed by positioning the spout orifices within the closure conduit. In a preferred embodiment the spout has two conduits joined at right angles to each other with the second conduit having a respiration valve adjacent the first conduit.

United States Patent 1191 Vannucci 1 May 20, 1975 POURING SPOUT FORLIQUID CONTAINERS [75] Inventor: Osvaldo Vannucci, Sao Paulo, Brazil[73] Assignee: American Home Products Corporation, New York, N.Y.

[22] Filed: Feb. 4, 1974 [21] Appl. No.: 439,489

[52] U.S. Cl. 222/83; 222/538; 222/541 [51] Int. Cl B67b 7/26 [58] Fieldof Search 222/83, 541, 538; 248/79 [56] References Cited UNITED STATESPATENTS 3,474,933 10/1969 Malpas 222 541 x Primary Examiner-Stanley H.Tollberg Assistant Examiner-John P. Shannon Attorney, Agent, orFirm-Joseph Martin Weigman [57] ABSTRACT A demountable pouring spout isdisclosed for liquid containers which are sealed by a closure insertedinto a filling orifice. In one embodiment'the spout is a conduit with apiercing member at one end and an orifice adjacent the piercing member.During shipment and storage the spout is connected to the sealedcontainer by the orifice engaging a post formed on the closure. Duringuse the spout conduit frictionally engages a closure conduit, and thepiercing device ruptures a frangible sealing membrane in the closure sothat the orifices can be inserted into the container and the contentsdischarged through the orifices and the conduit. The container isrescaled by positioning the spout orifices within the closure conduit.In a preferred embodiment the spout has two conduits joined at rightangles to each other with the second conduit having a respiration valveadjacent the first conduit.

4 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PATENTED MAY 2 01975 SHEET 2 OF 2 x13" I G o5 POURING SPOUT FOR LIQUID CONTAINERS The present invention relates topouring spouts for liquid containers. More particularly, the inventionrelates to an improved pouring spout which is adapted to pour the liquidcontents to a precise point of use. Precision in discharge isaccomplished by having the spout rotatable through 360. The presentinvention is particularly useful for filling an insecticide sprayer withliquid insecticide. It has been found that the present pouring spoutavoids spilling of the liquid while the sprayer tank is being filled.

A demountable spout has been developed for liquid containers which aresealed by a closure inserted into a filling orifice. In one embodimentthe spout is a conduit with a piercing member at one end and an orificeadjacent the piercing member. During shipping and storage the spout isconnected to the sealed container by the orifice engaging a post formedon the closure. During use the spout conduit frictionally engages aclosure conduit, and the piercing device ruptures a frangible sealingmembrane in the closure so that the orifice can be inserted into thecontainer and the contents discharged through the orifices and theconduit. The container is rescaled by positioning the spout orificeswithin the closure conduit. In a preferred embodiment the spout has twoconduits joined at right angles to each other with the second conduithaving a respiration valve adjacent the first conduit.

It has been found that by making the pouring spout demountable, theliquid containers may be packaged into cartons which are markablyshorter in depth, permitting more packages to be loaded into a singlefreight car or onto a single truck, resulting in economy of packagingcosts and freight costs.

In relatively long spouts, particularly those made up of more than oneconduit at angles to each other, it has been found advantageous toprovide a respiration valve adjacent the junction of the conduits topermit draining of the contents from the conduit after initial dischargepressure has been removed. A vent hole serves as a respiration valvepermitting air to enter into the liquid container and speed the releaseof the vacuum created by the discharge. The respiration valve isrelatively small compared with the size of the discharge orifice so thatsubstantially no liquid is discharged through the respiration valve.However, because of its location, the valve serves to convenientlypermit the influx of air.

The most closely related prior art known resides in U.S. Pat. Nos.3,l48,803, 3,422,998, 3,672,547, 3,096,002 and 3,768,475. None of thepatents shows the present invention in its entirety. There is noteaching or suggestion in any one of them how they may be combined inorder to obtain the present invention.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved pouringspout for containers of liquids.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a pouring spoutfor liquid containers which is removably connected to the containerduring shipping and storage prior to initial use.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a pouringspout for factory sealed liquid containers which is adapted to puncturethe seal for initial use and to reseal the container after use.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a pouringspout which may be oriented at a desired angle to a container forliquids.

It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide anelongated pouring spout which is adapted to dispense liquids to a smallpredetermined location.

Other and further objects of the invention will be apparent to thoseskilled in the :art by reading the following description in conjunctionwith the drawings in which:

FIG. I is a partial elevational view, partly in section, showing thepreferred embodiment of the pouring spout in position for initial use;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the container showing the pouring spout in theshipping; or storage position prior to use;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the pouring spout taken generallyalong lines 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an elevational view, partly in section, of an alternateemodiment of the pouring spout of this invention shown in position forinitial use; and

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the alternate embodiment of FIG. 4 showing thepouring spout in the shipping or storage position prior to use.

The preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIGS. 1, 2and 3. There, the container 10 for liquids has a planar top member 12connected to walls 14. A filling orifice is defined by a depressedannular ring 16 formed in the topp member 12. The orifice is sealed by aclosure 18 which has a lower annular ring 20, which engages the lowerextremity of annular ring 16, and a flange 22, which engages the upperportion of the ring 16.

The closure 18 has a central conduit 24 which after filling and prior toinitial use is closed by a frangible membrane 26. The closure 18 alsohas defined on it a post 28 on which the pouring spout 30 is mounted atthe factory for shipping, as may be seen in FIG. 2.

The pouring spout 30 is comprised of a cylindrical conduit 32 whichconnects to a second conduit 34 at right angles. The conduit 32 is sizedto frictionally engage the closure conduit 24. The first cylindricalconduit 32 has at one end a piercing device 36 which is adapted topuncture the frangible membrane 26. Adjacent to the piercing device 36is at least one orifice 38, which, during shipping and storage, servesby frictional engagement to connect the pouring spout 30 to the post 28as is shown in FIG. 2. During use, as shown in phantom in FIG. 1, theliquid from the interior of the container 14 passes through the orifice38 into the conduit 32.

The second conduit 34 has a respiration valve, or vent hole, 40 definedat the end adjacent the first conduit 32. A discharge orifice 42 is atthe other end. The respiration valve 40 facilitates drainage of thesecond conduit after the desired amount of liquid has been discharged.As is shown in FIG. 3, the preferred shape of the second conduit 34 isrectangular.

After the container is filled at the factory the closure 18 is insertedin the filling orifice, and the spout 30 is attached to the post 28 byengaging the orifice 38. For initial use, the user removes the pouringspout 30 from the post 28 and inserts the first conduit 32 into theclosure conduit 24. The user pushes the pouring spout 30 with sufficientforce to cause the piercing device 36 to rupture the frangible membrane26. As is shown in phantom in FIG. 1, rupture of the membrane permitsthe insertion of the pouring spout 30 into the container to a sufficentdepth that the orifice 38 is below the closure 18. The discharge orifice42 is then placed adjacent the point where the liquid contents aredesired to be discharged and by inverting the container 10, or byapplying gentle pressure the liquid contents are forced out of thecontainer through the orifice 38 through the first conduit 32, thesecond conduit 34, and the discharge orifice 42 to the desired point ofuse.

After use the pouring spout 30 is lifted slightly so that the orifice 38is contained within the conduit 24 of the closure 18 and so seals thecontainer 10.

An alternate embodiment is shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. There a container 50has walls 52 supporting a planar top member 54. An annular ring 56defines an orifice which is sealed by a closure 58. The closure 58 hasan annular ring 60 which engages the lower portion of the annular ring56 and in cooperation with the upper flange 62 seals the container. Theclosure has defined in it a conduit 64 which is closed by a frangiblemembrane 66. The closure also has on it at least one post 68 to whichthe pouring spout 70 is attached during shipping and storage. Thepouring spout 70 is comprised of a single conduit 72 having a piercingdevice 74 formed at one end and at least one, preferably two oppositelydisposed, orifices 76 adjacent the piercing device 74. The other end ofthe conduit 72 defines a discharge spout 78. The spout conduit 72 issized to frictionally engage the closure conduit 64.

After filling and sealing the pouring spout 70 is fastened to theclosure 58 by the orifice 76 engaging the post 68. For use, the userremoves the pouring spout 70 from the post 68 and inserts the piercingdevice 74 into the conduit 64 defined in the closure 58. Sufficientforce is applied so that the piercing device 74 ruptures the frangiblemembrane 66 permitting the conduit 72 to be inserted into the container50 to a suitable depth so that the orifice 76 may be in communicationwith the contents of the container 50, as shown in phantom in FIG. 4.The discharge spout 78 is placed adjacent the point of desired dischargeof the contents, and the container 50 is inverted and gently squeezedcausing the contents to flow through the orifice 76 through the conduit72 and out the discharge orifice 78. After use the pouring spout 70 maybe raised slightly so that the orifice 76 is disposed within the closureconduit 64 thus sealing the container 50.

What is claimed:

1. A dispensing container for liquids comprising:

A. A container having an orifice defined in it;

B. A closure sealably connected to said orifice;

l. A conduit defined in said closure adapted to receive a pouring spout;

2. A frangible sealing member defined in said closure conduit;

3. A post defined on the outer surface of said closure; and

C. A demountable pouring spout further comprising 1. At least oneconduit adapted to frictionally engage said closure conduit;

2. A piercing device formed at one end of said spout conduit; and

3. At least one orifice defined in said spout conduit adjacent saidpiercing device, said orifice being adapted to frictionally engage saidclosure post.

2. A container as defined in claim 1 wherein said pouring spout iscomprised of first and second conduits joined at substantially rightangles to each other, said first spout conduit being adapted tofrictionally engage said closure conduit.

3. A container as defined in claim 2 wherein said second spout conduithas a vent defined in it adjacent the intersection with said first spoutconduit.

4. In a liquids container having a closure with an internal conduit, theimprovement comprising:

A. A frangible member located at one end of the closure conduit;

B. A demountable pouring spout further comprising:

1. At least one conduit adapted to removably engage the closure internalconduit;

2. A piercing device defined at one end of said spout conduit adapted topierce said frangible membrane and further adapted to seal said closureinternal conduit after said membrane is ruptured;

3. At least one orifice defined in said spout conduit adjacent saidpiercing device; and

C. A post defined on the outer surface of the closure,

said spout orifice being adapted to removably engage said post, wherebysaid spout may be secured to said post by said orifice during shippingand storage.

1. A dispensing container for liquids comprising: A. A container havingan orifice defined in it; B. A closure sealably connected to saidorifice;
 1. A conduit defined in said closure adapted to receive apouring spout;
 1. At least one conduit adapted to frictionally engagesaid closure conduit;
 2. A piercing device defined at one end of saidspout conduit adapted to pierce said frangible membrane and furtheradapted to seal said closure internal conduit after said membrane isruptured;
 2. A frangible sealing member defined in said closure conduit;2. A container as defined in claim 1 wherein said pouring spout iscomprised of first and second conduits joined at substantially rightangles to each other, said first spout conduit being adapted tofrictionally engage said closure conduit.
 2. A piercing device formed atone end of said spout conduit; and
 2. A frangible sealing member definedin said closure conduit;
 2. A piercing device formed at one end of saidspout conduit; and
 3. At least one orifice defined in said spout conduitadjacent said piercing device, said orifice being adapted tofrictionally engage said closure post.
 3. A post defined on the outersurface of said closure; and C. A demountable pouring spout furthercomprising
 3. At least one orifice defined in said spout conduitadjacent said piercing device, said orifice being adapted tofrictionally engage said closure post.
 3. A post defined on the outersurface of said closure; and C. A demountable pouring spout furthercomprising
 3. A container as defined in claim 2 wherein said secondspout conduit has a vent defined in it adjacent the intersection withsaid first spout conduit.
 3. At least one orifice defined in said spoutconduit adjacent said piercing device; and C. A post defined on theouter surface of the closure, said spout orifice being adapted toremovably engage said post, whereby said spout may be secured to saidpost by said orifice during shipping and storage.
 4. In a liquidscontainer having a closure with an internal conduit, the improvementcomprising: A. A frangible member located at one end of the closureconduit; B. A demountable pouring spoUt further comprising: